Question: When climbing on the road bike, do you sit or stand? By climb, I’m referring to anything that averages 7% for at least 1 kilometer, preferably that average gradient upward for 10 km to 20 km. In cycling, there are two primary types of climbers. There are diesels: Jan Ullrich, Miguel Indurain, (even Bradley Wiggins could be placed in this category). And there are those better known for the ability to dance (on the pedals): Marco Pantani and Alberto Contador immediately spring to mind. The contrast in diesel and dance climbing styles can be seen here the 1998 ascent of Les Duex Alpes. in the Tour de France. Pantani rises out of the saddle, keeps his tempo high throughout the final piece of the climb, while Ullrich and stays firmly bolted down. Yes, the latter was in a weakened state in miserable conditions, but watch him here in 2003 at the Tour during Stage 13, Toulouse-Ax-Bonascre, on a much better day. In trademark diesel style, he throws down an attack, accelerating away from Lance Armstrong, Ivan Basso and Haimar Zubeldia, all of whom dance on the pedals while desperately watching Der Kaiser put a gap between himself and the trio.
I’m guessing that probably 99.9% of the attacks on alpine climbs today during grand tours are delivered out of the saddle. The sudden power and ferocity is a spectacle worthy of any in professional sport as we watch the faces of the riders and search out meaning. Who will crack? Who will counter punch? Who will take the stage? Dancing on the pedals is a term of endearment for cycling commentators. It’s poetic, a beautiful metaphor for a brutal endeavor. But I’ll take Jan Ullrich’s 2003 diesel dance any day for its audacity and unique thrill provided on that sunny day.
Who’s your favorite climber? And what’s your favorite style of climbing?
Photo credit: watchdog on flickr
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I always loved watching Ullrich power up climbs.
I would consider myself to be a climbing fan and enjoy pushing it and challenging myself with some mighty big ones. I would consider myself to be much more of a “dancer” out of the saddle than of the diesel variety, just as I would consider myself a spinner and not a grinder. But with that said, I do my best to stay in the saddle and diesel my way up as much as I can, and then flip to dancing out of it when I have to.
For me, I don’t consider a “hill” a “climb” unless I have to jump out of the saddle to go up it. However, on a lot of the climbs I would say that I more like waltz than dance.